The region of Jumilla in the inland region of Murcia - with its expanse of wilderness, mountains, forests and National Parks offers the keen walker plenty of opportunities for interesting and enjoyable walking holidays. Having lived in the area for some years and owning a luxury villa that we now lease out for vacations, we can speak with some knowledge and experience about this region and its facilities and its appeal to walkers. In this region you will find the beautiful La Zarza Valley where lies the spectacular Sierra de la Pila National Park, home to a range of birds, mammals, flora and fauna, mountain villages and some of the most spectacular scenery you could hope to find in Spain. The park is a protected landscape of 8,836 hectres. It is a mountainous mass with a rough relief and steep slopes belonging to the betic mountain range. The range is made up of limestone, dolomites, sandstone, marls and gypsums. There are many short half day walks or longer treks that you can take through the park and an Information Centre is open to offer guidance and advice. The park is split into two sectors that is divided by a precipice (Barranco del Mulo). The highest peaks (La Pila at 1,264m and Los Cenajos at 1,200m) are in the eastern area. In the western area, from El Caramucel, you have an astonishing panoramic view over the region. On your walks you will see some of the most spectacular scenery. The best is said to be on the southern slope - its beauty a result of great suffering from erosion over many years and the ascent to the summit from the Cabezo de Turra refuge is recommended as a walk full of natural charm. The park is well known for the different species of birds, prey and wildlife that inhabit its landscape. It has ,infact, been declared a Special Protection Bird Area due to the large colony of red-billed chough that nest inside the fissures and cavities in the rocks. There are many other species of birds that can be seen too: predatory birds such as the golden eagle, the eagle owl, goshawks, sparrowhawks, buzzards and falcons - all seeking their prey of chaffinches, finecrests, tits and blue tits. And in the abandoned crops and thickets, many other species survive such as the great grey shrike, the red-legged partridge and the warbler. Other smaller mammels that you will find on your walks are the Algerian mouse, the Spanish shrew and the garden dormouse, as well as the Eurasian badger - these too, have made the park their home. The mountain range is also very rich in vegitation and you will find holm oaks and pines and a number of protected species in this region such as the European fan palm, the strawberry tree and the mastic tree, for example. Scattered throughout the Park you will find some typical country cottages, though most of them are not lived in now, their settlements originating from the Arabic period. Little mountain villages such as La Garapacha and Pena Zafra lay hidden in this wild expanse. There are also a number of preserved cave houses which give an insight into what life was like for the inhabitants who lived in these homes in the not too distant past. You will also find snow wells dating from the 17th - 18th century which were built to store snow during the shortage of rain. Just a little further away is the Sierra de Carche where you can enjoy a range of walks amongst rare flora and fauna, herbs and ancient snow wells. Or explore the dry river bed of the River Chicamo and find the source of water. Throughout Spain there is an extensive network of long distance walks, with a number crossing into Murcia. The GR 7, a long-distance footpath in Spain and part of the network of Senderos de Gran Recorrido which forms the western most part of the European walking route E4 that runs from Spain to Greece is in this region,too. The GR 7 is 2699km long and was the first long distance footpath to be marked out in Spain. It was initiated in 1974 and runs up the east side of peninsular Spain, but at some distance from the coast. From south-west to north-east, it runs through the Spanish regions of: Andaluca(from Tarifa to Puebla de Don Fadrique), Murcia (from Caada de la Cruz to Torre del Rico), Valencia (from Pinoso to Fredes) and Catalonia (from Fredes to Andorra ). From Andorra, the E4 continues in France. Like all the Gran Recorrido paths, the GR 7 is marked with red and white waymarks. Walking Holidays in Spain Spain, with its spectacular scenery and beautiful climate offers the perfect destination for walking holidays abroad. The best times to visit are out of the main holiday season - when the weather is ideal (still very good but a little cooler and therefore ideal for walking) and when flights and accommodation are less expensive, too. Each region of Spain offers the walker something different - the area of Jumilla in the inland region of Murcia, with its varying landscapes of wilderness, mountains, forests and national parks makes for a very interesting and enjoyable walking holiday. The region of Jumilla in the inland region of Murcia - with its expanse of wilderness, mountains, forests and National Parks offers the keen walker plenty of opportunities for interesting and enjoyable walking holidays. Having lived in the area for some years and owning a luxury villa that we now lease out for vacations, we can speak with some knowledge and experience about this region and its facilities and its appeal to walkers. In this region you will find the beautiful La Zarza Valley where lies the spectacular Sierra de la Pila National Park, home to a range of birds, mammals, flora and fauna, mountain villages and some of the most spectacular scenery you could hope to find in Spain. The park is a protected landscape of 8,836 hectres. It is a mountainous mass with a rough relief and steep slopes belonging to the betic mountain range. The range is made up of limestone, dolomites, sandstone, marls and gypsums. There are many short half day walks or longer treks that you can take through the park and an Information Centre is open to offer guidance and advice. The park is split into two sectors that is divided by a precipice (Barranco del Mulo). The highest peaks (La Pila at 1,264m and Los Cenajos at 1,200m) are in the eastern area. In the western area, from El Caramucel, you have an astonishing panoramic view over the region. On your walks you will see some of the most spectacular scenery. The best is said to be on the southern slope - its beauty a result of great suffering from erosion over many years and the ascent to the summit from the Cabezo de Turra refuge is recommended as a walk full of natural charm. The park is well known for the different species of birds, prey and wildlife that inhabit its landscape. It has ,infact, been declared a Special Protection Bird Area due to the large colony of red-billed chough that nest inside the fissures and cavities in the rocks. There are many other species of birds that can be seen too: predatory birds such as the golden eagle, the eagle owl, goshawks, sparrowhawks, buzzards and falcons - all seeking their prey of chaffinches, finecrests, tits and blue tits. And in the abandoned crops and thickets, many other species survive such as the great grey shrike, the red-legged partridge and the warbler. Other smaller mammels that you will find on your walks are the Algerian mouse, the Spanish shrew and the garden dormouse, as well as the Eurasian badger - these too, have made the park their home. The mountain range is also very rich in vegitation and you will find holm oaks and pines and a number of protected species in this region such as the European fan palm, the strawberry tree and the mastic tree, for example. Scattered throughout the Park you will find some typical country cottages, though most of them are not lived in now, their settlements originating from the Arabic period. Little mountain villages such as La Garapacha and Pena Zafra lay hidden in this wild expanse. There are also a number of preserved cave houses which give an insight into what life was like for the inhabitants who lived in these homes in the not too distant past. You will also find snow wells dating from the 17th - 18th century which were built to store snow during the shortage of rain. Just a little further away is the Sierra de Carche where you can enjoy a range of walks amongst rare flora and fauna, herbs and ancient snow wells. Or explore the dry river bed of the River Chicamo and find the source of water. Throughout Spain there is an extensive network of long distance walks, with a number crossing into Murcia. The GR 7, a long-distance footpath in Spain and part of the network of Senderos de Gran Recorrido which forms the western most part of the European walking route E4 that runs from Spain to Greece is in this region,too. The GR 7 is 2699km long and was the first long distance footpath to be marked out in Spain. It was initiated in 1974 and runs up the east side of peninsular Spain, but at some distance from the coast. From south-west to north-east, it runs through the Spanish regions of: Andaluca(from Tarifa to Puebla de Don Fadrique), Murcia (from Caada de la Cruz to Torre del Rico), Valencia (from Pinoso to Fredes) and Catalonia (from Fredes to Andorra ). From Andorra, the E4 continues in France. Like all the Gran Recorrido paths, the GR 7 is marked with red and white waymarks.
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